5 sweet bites to celebrate Deepavali with

Our starter guide to ringing in the celebrations for those with a sweet tooth

Deepavali is a symbolic celebration of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Its celebrations are usually filled with bright lights and vibrant colours, making it one of the most joyous occasions of the year.

Much like any other cultural celebration in Malaysia and beyond, Deepavali is also a time for coming together with family and spending time together over special meals. In between these family meals, there is always time for a sweet snack or two. Here are five bites that are especially popular during the festive season.

Jalebi

Above Jalebi (Photo: Sanju M Gurung/Unsplash)

Jalebi is a chewy and crunchy snack made by piping maida (milled wheat flour) in spirals into hot oil and coating the fried finished product in a syrupy sweet sauce. Try having some rose water with jalebi to add another dimension of sweet aromas to your bites.

Gujiya

Above Gujiya (Photo: Shree Iyer/Unsplash)

Gujiya might look like a Malaysian curry puff, but its flavour profile is miles away from one. Crispy on the outside and grainy on the inside, gujiya is a fried dumpling-like dessert that is usually filled with khoa (milk solids), grated coconut, and dried fruits before being fried in ghee.

Kaju katli

Above Kaju katli (Photo: iStock)

A well-loved Indian sweet snack, known as mithai, all year around, but especially during the festive season, kaju katli is a fudge-like treat that is made by combining cashew paste with melted sugar, and sometimes, ghee, saffron, or dried fruits. After being moulded into rhombus-shaped pieces, the kaju katli is usually decorated with edible silver foil.

Kheer

Above Kheer (Photo: iStock)

Similar to rice pudding, kheer is a simple yet incredibly satisfying sweet dish that many love to enjoy during Deepavali. A basic kheer is made by simmering rice in milk and sugar. To this base, you can add dried fruits like raisins, spices like saffron and cardamom, nuts like almonds or more–the possibilities are endless!

Laddu

Above Laddu (Photo: iStock)

This spherical treat is made from flour, ghee, and sugar and comes in all sorts of variations, depending on the ingredients used. You might find laddu stuffed with pistachios, dried fruit, and even grated coconut.

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